Raymond Road Sites Stir Rumor Mill

WEST HARTFORD — Rumors galore are circulating in town about development plans for two former car dealerships on Raymond Road near West Hartford Center.

There's talk of a fancy hotel, condominiums, a health club, a connector to Main Street and maybe even new retail stores, such as Trader Joe's, a high-quality food store chain.

Carpenter & Co., a developer based in Cambridge, Mass., has formed a partnership with Bill Newman, owner of the Williams Ford property, to develop that site.

Carpenter has indicated that it plans to build a 150-room hotel and retail complex on the 4-acre parcel. The company also is talking with Hartford Hospital about building a health club/wellness center there.

But no formal plans have been shown to West Hartford officials.

Streetworks, a White Plains, N.Y., development and consulting firm, is in a partnership with a local developer, JDA Associates, to develop the former dealership property where Grody Chevrolet and then Crowley Chevrolet operated.

The New York company has talked about building a mix of condominiums and retail stores. But again, no formal plans have been shown to the town.

``There are all kinds of rumors floating around the community right now,'' said Ron Van Winkle, the town's director of community services.

``But there is nothing concrete,'' he said. ``Even with all these rumors, there are a lot of hurdles to all these things.''

The area is in a zone that allows four-story buildings, like many in West Hartford Center. Developers also can ask for a special permit in that zone that would allow six-story buildings. But in that case, a developer would have to conduct a traffic study, Van Winkle said.

Kevin Chase, development director at Carpenter, said the company expects to have site plans ready in about a month, and would like to break ground early next year.

``A hotel is a viable option,'' he said. ``We're talking about doing a wellness center with Hartford Hospital, and there's a possibility of a retail tenant as well. ... We're in the process of finalizing our site plan, and it could include one, two or three of those options.''

Chase said the company has had conversations with representatives of hotel chains and national retail chains, but he would not name them.

Kenneth Narva, managing partner of Streetworks, said his company would announce development plans by the end of October.

``The extent and amount of retail is still to be determined,'' he said.

Streetworks is known for urban redevelopment projects that meld new buildings and streetscapes with existing developments.

``I think the intent is to maintain the positive momentum of West Hartford Center,'' said town Councilman Art Spada. ``And the development of Raymond Road is the next logical step.''